During the week of October 14, 2024, Dickinson State University (DSU) welcomed representatives from AgWest Farm Credit, Rob Breuer and Brooke Kmetz, to meet with students interested in careers in finance. During their visit, they shared insights into their work in agricultural finance and conducted interviews for summer internships and job opportunities for students nearing graduation.
AgWest is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, which supports rural communities and agriculture through financial services. Their career offerings include agricultural lending, crop insurance, appraisal services, and more. "We’ve been coming to DSU for the past three or four years. With Dickinson being close to our territory, we want to connect with students here,” said Kmetz. AgWest's territory spans Montana, Idaho, Washington, and parts of Arizona, California, and Nevada.
Breuer and Kmetz set up a booth in DSU’s agriculture building, spending Tuesday discussing agricultural finance with students. On Wednesday, they presented in Professor Toby Stroh’s agriculture accounting class, where they highlighted career opportunities at AgWest and provided key information about the farm credit industry.
Paul Hardy, a senior majoring in agriculture science with a focus on farm management, appreciated the presentation. “It’s always great to have industry professionals come to class. It gives us a sense of what life will be like after DSU and exposes us to potential job opportunities,” Hardy said.
Kaylee Kinsey, a sophomore majoring in ag business, was also excited to hear from AgWest. “I liked how they explained programs designed to help future generations start careers in a way that sets them up for success,” she shared.
DSU was excited to welcome AgWest and provide students with the opportunity to connect with influential industry professionals. AgWest is actively seeking students and recent graduates who want to apply the skills they’ve gained in college to careers in agricultural financial services, especially in rural areas.
For more information about opportunities with AgWest, please contact Rob Breuer at Rob.Breuer@AgWestFC.com or Brooke Kmetz at Brooke.Kmetz@AgWestFC.com.